The Most Pain for Little Gain

Little Harbor is a quiet tiny anchorage located at the far southern corner of the Sea of Abaco.  Because it is a fair distance and offers nothing unique or different from any other anchorage in Abaco, it seems to provide the least gain for the most pain. 

Pete’s Pub is the main reason visitors come, however it is very quiet and peaceful, making it a great place to hole up for a few days if you are looking to get away from everybody.  It is fully protected from all sides.

Getting There

Despite the fact that it is really only 13 miles south of Hope Town, you have to zig-zag around Parrot Cays, Lubbers Quarter Cay, Tilloo Bank, Channel Cay, Sandy Cay, and Lynyard Cay to avoid shallow water, making it seem more like 30 miles!  Accurate charts and a GPS is mandatory, needless to say.

To make matters worse, parts of the harbor entrance are only three and a half feet deep at low tide, meaning that you must time your entry with high tide if you are sailing a keelboat.  Owners of deep-draft vessels will have to visit Little Harbor by car, which is possible because it is part of Great Abaco Island and connected by road.

If after reading this far, you are still intent on visiting, your GPS-plotted course to N 26° 19.900 W 76° 59.390' should take you near the mouth of the harbor.  Stay to the right of the beach that will come into view, keeping Tom Curry’s Point on your right.  When you can see a white house at the far end of the harbor, head straight for it.  As the harbor entrance begins to narrow, you will need to make a slight left turn, lining up Tom Curry’s Point with another house with a white roof.  Start looking for red and green channel markers and then stay between them.  The shallowest water is near the channel markers, so don’t start opening beers until you are past them.

It is a tight anchorage, but there are not usually many boats so it will not seem crowded.  Either drop an anchor or grab an available mooring.  Someone will be by later to collect money for the mooring, and it’s usually $10 for the night.

Pete’s Pub and Gallery

Pete’s is the real reason you are here, make no mistake about it.  It is a quaint open-air beach bar with a sand floor build haphazardly around the bow of an old boat made into a bar.  T-shirts, flags, and burgees from yacht clubs and countries around the world hang from the rafters.  Sailors come here to tell lies. 

This is an expensive place, so bring lots of money.  With cheeseburgers priced at $9, very few wallets would make it through the entire 60 minutes of any Happy Hour.  Sailors do manage to find their way here in numbers, and it’s a great place to hang out, exchange stories, and enjoy the good life.  There is a highway traffic light hung on the front of the place and at night, the yellow light is lit - perhaps one should proceed with caution when entering.

In the 1950’s, Randolph and Margot Johnson settled in Little Harbor and established a local art community.  When he died in 1992, Randolph was known  internationally for his bronze cast sculptures.  Their son Pete took over and can be found in the Gallery next door to the Pub, crafting life-size bronze sculptures of various marine themes.  Be sure to stop in at the Gallery, have a chat with Pete, and perhaps pick up one of his sculptures.  His is quality work, so do not be frightened by the price tag on some of the pieces.

Other Things to Enjoy

Little Harbor is actually located on Great Abaco Island, so it is possible to reach by car by heading due south from Marsh Harbor.  When you do arrive, the road ends at the beach, sort of.  It actually continues along the beach, so do not be surprised to see cars traveling up and down the beach to reach some of the residences at the far end of the harbor.  At least there are no traffic lights.

Just for fun, hop into your dinghy and head for the southwest corned of the harbor.  There you will find an interesting arrangement of caves that are fun to explore.  Reportedly, the early settlers of Little Harbor made these caves their home for a number of years while they established themselves.  Looking at the beautiful cottages that line the harbor today, you realize how far they have come.

Take a walk over the hill just behind Pete’s.  This will get you to the ocean side, and a stroll along the shore is always worth it.  Continue north along the beach to the lighthouse.

There is an excellent reef for snorkeling just outside the harbor entrance on the east shore.  Plenty of reef fish make this their home, consequently making it an excellent spear fishing opportunity if fresh fish for dinner appeals to you.  Continue snorkeling past the reef towards the beach  - this area is known to harbor conchs.